Village pulls together to bridge funding gap

MUIR — Grassroots fundraising continues in Muir as village council members, residents and supporters move forward with their plans to fund and build a new bridge over the Maple River.

The project has a $3.5 million price tag. Muir received a $2.85 million federal grant from the Michigan Transportation Fund, and is working to raise the remaining $650,000 through other grant sources and from stakeholders in Muir, Lyons and surrounding communities who use the bridge.

Efforts so far have included jelly bean sales at the Ionia Free Fair, bake sales, lemonade stands and a lottery. Additionally, the council is selling memorial plaques – tiles that can be purchased and inscribed by donors before they are installed on the bridge.

The current bridge, which is more than 100 years old, still is a vital link to services on both sides of the river for Muir and Lyons residents. It provides a convenient route for 500 to 600 cars a day (as counted in 2009), Council President Doug Hyland said at a public meeting on the matter in June. Residents cross the bridge on Prairie to bring their children to Twin Rivers School and commute to work in Lansing, Grand Rapids and Portland. However, the aging structure is so badly deteriorated that MDOT now requires an annual inspection instead of every three years, Hyland said.

Closing the bridge and forcing travelers to seek alternate routes would add seven to 10 miles to one trip, according to Jason Washler of Prein & Newhof, an engineering firm in Grand Rapids that is overseeing design and construction of the new bridge.

"We're probably the reason for this project," Washler said, explaining that his firm completed a water improvement project for Muir several years ago. "The next infrastructure challenge on the list was the bridge. We helped them apply for the (federal) grant a couple of years ago, which was successful. But now there is this funding gap."

In addition to the engineering work, Washler's firm is helping the village council find the funds needed to "make this happen," he said, including seeking other grants and approaching foundations, and training council members in fundraising.

"We all recognize they aren't going to be able to write a check for $650,000," he said. "We are trying to get creative."

The village does not need all the money in place before the project begins, but council members must commit to the project by February 2013. That's when they would need to decline the Michigan Transportation Fund grant. Completion of the bridge is anticipated for the fall of 2015.

"It's a lot of money to raise, but how do we turn down $2.85 million?" Hyland said. "If we turn it down, we will go back to the bottom of the list. Because we received the grant, we think it's time to move forward."

"You don't need to tell the Muir residents to 'quit slackin' and make it happen,'" said Washler. "They need a new bridge over the Maple River for safety, convenience and economic reasons, and nothing is stopping them from funding its construction. Village leaders recognize this as an opportunity to teach young people – and adults – in their community about civic pride, responsibility and perseverance."

But, he added, they need all the help they can get in raising money for this "undeniably important project." For more information or to make a donation to the bridge project, contact the Village of Muir office at 989-855-2144.